Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Loebsack today applauded the U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that they will focus on improving Career and Technical Education (CTE). Loebsack has been a longtime supporter of CTE programs and is the sponsor of the SECTORS Act, which will retool and streamline our workforce development programs to train workers for specialized fields by creating partnerships between private industry and education. The Department of Education’s proposal includes incentives for similar public-private partnerships.

“I continually hear from employers that despite the unacceptable unemployment rate, they can’t find people with the skills they need. We must ensure workers have the training they need to get good paying jobs and employers have access to a workforce that has the skills that are required in a 21st century economy,” said Loebsack. “Career and Technical Education has the potential to create jobs that will keep Iowa’s young talent in the state and make American students more competitive in the global economy. We should continue to focus on preparing students to secure good jobs and to help grow our economy.”

The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education program provides support for career and technical education through grants to states. The program’s goal is to help students acquire the academic and technical skills that prepare them for high-skill, high-wage, high-demand occupations. In Iowa, Perkins provides support for career education in agricultural fields, business and information technology, industrial technology, and health occupations, among other fields.